Committed couples are happier

Romantic relationships tend to make both men and women happier and strongly committed partnerships bring the greatest sense of wellbeing, according to a new study.

American research has shown that married people tend to score highest on the scale of happiness, followed by cohabiting couples.

Those in steady relationships come next on the spectrum of wellbeing and then more casual couples.

And researchers from Cornell university added that single people report the lowest levels of happiness.

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"Some commitment appears to be good, but more commitment appears to be even better," said Dr Claire Kamp Dush, first author of study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships.

"In general, people appear to feel better about themselves and their lives when they move into a more committed relationship," she said.

The correlation between happiness and commitment is not undermined by speculation that happier individuals are more likely to find themselves in committed relationships.

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Moving into a committed relationship makes an individual happier, the study showed.

In fact, an analysis of data measuring levels of self-esteem, life satisfaction, general happiness and distress symptoms in 691 individuals in 1992 and 1997 found those less happy with their lives were more likely to move into a committed relationship.

The study also has a riposte for those sceptical about the benefits of a difficult marriage, uncovering evidence that even those in relatively unhappy matrimony appear to benefit from the relationship.

Dr Kamp Dush explained: "Even when controlling for relationship happiness, being married is associated with higher self-esteem, greater life satisfaction, greater happiness and less distress, whereas people who are not in stable romantic relationships tend to report lower self-esteem, less life satisfaction, less happiness and more distress."

It is thought the even unhappy spouses gain a sense of wellbeing from their marriage's stability, commitment and social status.

The team points out that analysing the effects of romantic relationships is important as they exert a significant influence over people's mental health, physical health, sexuality and financial status.

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